Honestly, skip the Sony if you are on a strict budget. I have used both extensively, and the performance gap just isnt as wide as the price tag suggests. The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE is tiny, sharp, and the AF tracking has gotten way better with firmware updates over the years.

• Samyang is way smaller and lighter for all day street shooting
• Sony has a slightly more premium build but feels overpriced
• Both handle low light well, but the Samyang bokeh is surprisingly smooth for the price Save the extra cash for a SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I card or some good food in Tokyo. Unless you are shooting professional sports, the Samyang wont let you down. Just grab it and enjoy your trip, you're overthinking it.

If you want to get into the weeds of the specs, you should look at the Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary. It is built way better than both the Samyang and that Sony lens. We are talking full metal construction and an actual physical aperture ring which is a game changer for street photography when you want to change settings without looking at the screen. The optical performance is objectively higher too, with way less chromatic aberration than the cheaper options. Coming back to the autofocus thing, the Sigma uses a stepping motor that is super snappy for eye-tracking. If you are really worried about the gear failing you in Japan, check out the reviews on LensTip or go look at the MTF charts on the Sony Alpha Blog to see how these lenses handle corner sharpness. Honestly, if you can stretch the budget just a tiny bit, the Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary is the professional choice here. It just feels like a premium piece of glass in the hand compared to the plastic feel of the cheaper stuff. Just make sure you grab a decent memory card like a SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I so you aren't bottlenecking your camera's write speeds when you are firing off bursts in the middle of a busy Tokyo intersection.

Building on the earlier suggestion, be careful about just chasing the lowest price tag before a big trip. If you are really stuck, you might want to consider the Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 instead. It is usually right around that 300 dollar mark and honestly the optics are stunning for street work. The downside is the AF speed is just okay compared to Sony glass, so make sure to test it before you fly out. You might also want to check out the reviews on Phillip Reeve for some real-world handling notes. Just dont cut it too close on the shipping window since you are leaving in two weeks. Keep your eyes on the used market too, sometimes you can snag a deal on a clean copy.

Regarding what #3 said about being careful, I have to agree. Reliability is paramount when you are traveling abroad. Unfortunately, I have had issues with cheaper glass failing mid-trip, and the frustration is just not worth the savings.

• Build quality saves you from mechanical failure
• Weather sealing prevents moisture damage during humid walks
• Consistent autofocus ensures you dont lose the shot Honestly, I spent so much time worrying about gear that I almost missed the best part of my last trip, which was finding this tiny hole-in-the-wall ramen shop in Kyoto. The broth took like twelve hours to simmer, and the owner was this eccentric guy who insisted on playing 80s synth-pop while we ate. I ended up spending three hours just chatting with the locals there instead of taking photos. Anyway lol, sorry kinda went off topic there. Just prioritize something that wont let you down.